Post navigation

What is a Super Senior Pickleball Player to Do?

You are 72 and sign up for a tournament. You show up and find your age group has been lumped into the 65+ group. Gulp….what’s a super senior pickleball player to do?

Pickleball Tournaments

Though we are still in the 60-64 age division, I can understand the disappointment some seniors may feel. (Grant you there are a fair number of super seniors who can whoop me any day of the week…but I digress.) More to the point, we are sensitive to the dilemma tournament directors face when fewer players in a category or division sign up and as such were pleased when we learned about the SSIPA.

Super Senior International Pickleball Association

I contacted Ford Roberson, President and Executive Director of the SSIPA to learn more about how the organization got started. Ford explained,

Super Seniors was presented to a group of interested pickleball players over 65 at the USAPA Nationals in November of 2016…about 9 months ago. The concept was to develop a player based organization that would allow older players to compete within their age groups and not be combined with younger age groups at tournaments. Also, to promote play at skill levels within the age groups if enough players entered a tournament for more balanced competition. Providing for different skill levels at age groups would encourage those players to begin tournament play at a more advanced age with their peers.

Clearly, there was interest as the group reached its goal of 100 founding members in less than six months. A seven-member board was formed and planning began for the first tournament. Ford continues,

The first event was held at El Mirage with Jeff Stone (Surprise Pickleball Association President as the Tournament Director) in March of this year. There were almost 300 players in age groups 65+ at all skill levels. Since then, there have been tournaments in California, Pennsylvania, Texas, Washington and most recently Colorado where we had 175 competitors.

60-64 Added

Denise and I were pleased to see that they have extended membership to players 60 to 64. However, this change does not adversely affect older players due to tournament rules. The SSIPA guarantees a participant will have the opportunity to play in their age bracket as long there are at least three teams entered. If there are fewer than 3 teams, then the player is given the option to play down (i.e. be moved to the younger division) or receive a full refund.

Three more tournaments (New Mexico, Madrid, and Georgia) are planned for the remainder of the year. You’ll note that in Madrid the SSIPA tournament is embedded in another tournament (the Pickleball Grand Slam Event). I asked Ford if this is something we will continue to see.

Yes. We are currently developing the 2018 schedule and expect more tournaments will allow for the SSIPA format to be embedded in their event.

We are pleased to see a focus on super senior pickleball, and that the organization is offering refereed (i.e. sanctioned) tournaments to this important pickleball sector. If you want to promote the growth of pickleball among active senior adults, join the SSIPA today.

Comments

What is a Super Senior Pickleball Player to Do? — 4 Comments

I did join the SSIPA and I am playing i Ga…hopefully some other 70+ players will join us..I talked with Ford, and Melissa after having a hard time with my entry…they were so over the top with help and humor…My tennis partner and I have a hard time finding 70+ player..but we play wherever we can…we are so looking forward to Ga. and hope more seniors sign up and go..We feel it so important to separate the 60+ from the younger players…yet still have the opportunity to play either… The SSIPA seems to be just what we want and need….Thanx for doing this….See ya in Ga…….

I’m 57 but I still signed up as a lifetime member. I think the creation of this organization answers a growing need in the pickleball community. Seniors have done so much for the sport and because so many are retired, have had the time to really work the parks and rec all around the country (and other countries) to get courts built or a shared space at tennis and/or basketball courts. In the last few years, the younger set has discovered pickleball and advanced so quickly as to create a real discrepancy between a 65+ 5.0 and a 35+ 5.0. I think that contributed to the creation of the PPF and the SSIPA. Kudos to both groups for taking important steps to keep the dream of great competition alive for young and old alike. I look forward to participating in SSIPA tournaments in a few years.

Marian thanks for your thoughtful feedback. We agree there is a big difference between a 5.0 senior and a 5.0 20 or 30 something pro. We will continue to see this disparity grow as more young people enter the sport. There is room for both organizations, and both are necessary.

I totally agree with how hard it is to find enough players in my age group. I just turned 80 and there is never enough players that turn out for tournaments in my area of Las Vegas. I always have to play down and I am finding it harder to keep up with the younger players, especially in our hot weather.